Itinerary
- Day 1
Anchorage to Seward
You'll meet your group in Anchorage and drive south on the Seward Highway toward the coast. The route takes you through Girdwood where you'll hop on a tram that goes up to 2,300 feet, giving you views of the mountains and water below. After that, stop by the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see grizzlies, musk oxen, bison and moose that the center has rescued. Lunch is a picnic here. Later, you'll arrive in Seward by the late afternoon and get settled into your waterfront hotel. The evening is free so you can walk around the harbour town and grab dinner on your own.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch in a picturesque outdoor setting)
Included Activities
- Alyeska Tram ride to 2,300 feet with observation deck views
- Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center visit
- Picnic lunch in outdoor setting
Optional Activities
- Wander along Resurrection Bay
- Browse local art galleries
- Relax in a café
Landmarks/POIs Seward Highway Girdwood Alyeska Tram Turnagain Arm Chugach Mountains Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Resurrection Bay - Day 2
Seward
This morning you're taking a half-day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park. From the boat you'll watch for whales, sea otters, puffins and harbour seals while naturalists on board talk about what you're seeing. The captain takes you closer to a tidewater glacier where you might see ice calving off and splashing into the water. Back in Seward by afternoon, you'll have free time to either relax or visit the Alaska SeaLife Center if you want to spend a couple more hours learning about local marine life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Half-day cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park
- Wildlife viewing and naturalist commentary
- Tidewater glacier viewing
Optional Activities
- Visit Alaska SeaLife Center
Landmarks/POIs Kenai Fjords National Park Alaska SeaLife Center - Day 3
Seward to Majestic Valley
Start the day with a guided walk at Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park. You get to pick your route, so either do the easier interpretive trail or go longer to Marmot Meadows where the glacier views stretch out across the landscape. There's a picnic lunch included. From there you'll drive north through forested valleys and mountain passes, heading to Majestic Valley Wilderness Lodge where you'll be staying. Once you arrive, the evening is yours to explore the private trails around the property or soak in the hot tub under the Alaskan sky.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Guided walk at Exit Glacier with choice of easy interpretive trail or Marmot Meadows route
- Picnic lunch
Optional Activities
- Stroll on lodge's private trails
- Soak in the hot tub
Landmarks/POIs Exit Glacier Marmot Meadows Matanuska Valley Chugach Mountains - Day 4
Matanuska Valley to Denali
Today's drive takes you through Hatcher Pass, an alpine area with a lot of gold rush history. You'll stop at Independence Mine Historical Park where your guide shows you the old buildings and mine shafts while telling you about the miners who worked here decades ago. Picnic lunch happens here. Then you're heading to Denali and checking into creekside cabins just outside the park entrance. This evening you can hike the nature trails nearby or sit on your porch and take in the quiet.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Independence Mine Historical Park
- Picnic lunch
Optional Activities
- Nature walk around cabin area
- Relax on porch
Landmarks/POIs Hatcher Pass Independence Mine Historical Park - Day 5
Denali
You'll spend the full day in Denali National Park riding a park wildlife bus through the braided rivers, tundra and snow-capped peaks. If the weather cooperates, you might see Denali itself, which is North America's tallest mountain. The route is good for spotting grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and golden eagles. You'll have a picnic lunch included during the drive so you can eat without leaving the bus.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch provided during excursion)
Included Activities
- Full day wildlife bus tour of Denali National Park
- Picnic lunch during excursion
Landmarks/POIs Denali National Park Denali - Day 6
Denali to Anchorage
After breakfast you're driving south to Talkeetna, a quirky mountain town that has a strong arts scene and is famous as a spot where climbers organize Denali expeditions. You'll have a picnic-style lunch and can browse the shops, walk riverside trails, or if the weather is good, pay extra for a glacier landing flightseeing tour. Later in the afternoon you'll board the Alaska Railroad for a three-hour ride back to Anchorage, watching forests, rivers and mountains pass by. You arrive between 8 and 9 PM where your guide helps with luggage and gets you to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic-style lunch)
Included Activities
- Picnic-style lunch in Talkeetna
Optional Activities
- Explore shops
- Walk riverside trails
- Glacier landing flightseeing tour
Landmarks/POIs Talkeetna
